Puzzle



Mllrwlm PUZZLE Filed June so, 1945 Patented Dec. 3, 1946 UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE PUZZLE Henry M. sloouin, New York, N. Y. Application AJuno 3o, 194s, serial No. 492,912

4 Claims.

"This invention relates to a new and improved amusement device or puzzle, similar in some respects to jig-'saw puzzles, but having additional features cooperating therewith to provide a new and fascinating puzzle combination which mal7 be solved only in accordance with a new and different technique or mode of operation,

It is an object of the invention to provide a simple, inexpensive amusement device 01 puzzle which has all of the advantageous features of conventional jigsaw puzzles, yet which is more .rality of irregularly and arbitrarily shaped pieces cut from a picture mounted upon a thin backing 'slab of wood, cardboard or the like. In solving such puzzles, theperson attempts to fit to-A gether the pieces in their original relation, using the hands to match the various pieces and to try ito t different pieces inthe different localities,

until the correct solution has been reached, whereupon the original picture may be examined and enjoyed with a feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment.

,The jigsaw puzzle of the present invention .eliminates the manua1 handling of the individual pieces, yet requires that the pieces be assembled in the original relation, as cut by the jigsaw from the original picture. Thus, the puzzle of the present invention has all of the features f conventional jigsaw puzzles and the interest, fas- .cination and satisfaction of accomplishment, -which results from fitting the pieces into their proper places. However, the process of solving "the puzzle is rendered more difcult and interesting, for the reason that the individual pieces cannot be handled as units and readilyk placed in proper position. On the contrary, the puzzle must be solved by shaking, tapping and otherwise carefully manipulating a case in which the pieces are contained and through which they are visible. Thus, the puzzle has many of the characteristics of puzzles of the Pigs-in-clover type, wherein a plurality of balls or other objects must each be moved from one position to another by tipping, shaking or tapping a container.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that it is an object of the present invention to combine in a single puzzle device, the desirable features of puzzles of the jigsaw type and puzzles of the manipulative, shaking or tapping type.

in accordance with the present invention, a jigsaw puzzle is cut from an appropriately mounted picture of predetermined overall size and shape. A casing is provided, having a base of substantially the size and shape of the original picture, though preferably slightly larger, and also having a cover spaced from the base a suitable distance and through which the pieces of the puzzle,.contained within the casing, may be viewed. Preferably, the cover is of transparent material, such as Celluloid, Cellophane, glass or the like, although any material which prevents access to the puzzle pieces, yet permits them to be seen, may be employed.

Preferably, certain ofthe pieces of the puzzle are substantially permanently secured to the base in their proper relation to each other and to the margins of the base, so that the puzzle is always at least partially 'solved and a hint or indication is given to the user as to the manner in which the remaining pieces should be assembled. If it is desired to make the puzzle more diicult, a fewer number of pieces may be secured to the base, or all of the pieces may bev loosely positioned within the casing.

It is important that the vertical dimension between the base and the transparent cover be no greater than the size of the puzzle pieces contained therein, so that the pieces cannot be overturned` and their upper faces hidden from View, when the case is being manipulated.

In the accompanying drawing an illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device with the puzzle solved and the pieces in their properly assembled relation.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view with the loose pieces removed.

Figure 3 is a plan View with the loose pieces in scattered relation, and

Figure 4 is a transverse section on line 4-4 of Figure 1.

As shown in the accompanying drawing, the case for the puzzle comprises a base I0 mounted within a cardboard box-like inner case comprising a bottom I I and turn-up wings integral therewith and constituting side and end members I2 and I3, respectively. Upon the upper edges of the side and end members, there is a transparent cover I4, having down-turned marginal flanges I5 embracing the side and end members and held in place by metallic angle strips I6, I1, joined pieces.

3 Y together at opposite corners in any suitable manner, and having inwardly turned upper and lower flanges I8, I9 holding the parts in assembled relation. If desired, a second, reinforcing bottom member maybe positioned below the bottorn Vl and above the lower flanges I9. Y l

The base and bottom members and theV side walls maybe made of cardboard or the like, while n the cover LIii lis preferably of Celluloid, cellulose acetate-'sheet materia-igor any transparent synthetic resin, or even glass. The'outer side walls Iii,V Vl of the case may `conveniently'be formed from aluminum 'stampings The puzzle Iwithin the case is formed by cuti-y lting, Ystamping orjigsawing irregularly shaped pieces from a mounted picture of predetermined f overall size and shape, corresponding substantially to the size Aand shape of the base le. The lines upon which the mounted picture 'is'cut are indicated in Figure l., thereby providing individual pieces '2l-33, both inclusive.

I As' indicated in Figure 2., thepieces 2|-26 are secured tothe base, as by adhesive, in substantiallytheir original relation, except that slight spaces 35 are left between the pieces` to compensate for the saw cut and to'leave the ren maining, unfilled spaces between the fixedl pieces slightly larger than the loose pieces, thereby facilitating the reception ofthe loose pieces therein, The loose pieces AZ'L-t 4are shown in' Figures; and' 4' asbeing indiscriminatelyposi- *tioned' relative f to each' otherand to the. fixed tshould be` noted that the vertical dimension between the base lil andthe cover I4 bears `such a relation to the longitudinal Yand :transverse dimensions ofv the loose pieces that the 'latter cannot be overturned',` with their upper surfaces racing-y downwardly and their vbottoms `exposed, to view. v

It should be understood. that-the pieces se cured'to the base' maybe arbitrarily selected when the puzzle is manufactured, and that differently positioned piecesV inv similar. Vpuzzles mayV constitute the X'ed pieces. Moreoven -a greater or lesser number of* pieces may be xed to the base,

indicated in Figure l, the picture is clearly visible and the person solving the puzzle has the same Ysatisfaction usually Venjoyed by persons putting together standard jigsaw puzzles, with' the added satisfaction lof accomplishing the task ,entirelyl b-y manipulating the casing in which the pieces are contained. y

It must be understood that the invention is notlimitedr to thedetails of construction shown in the Y accompanying Y drawing andV described above, ybut coversall `modiiications coming WithinY the rscope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

I claim:

1.V A puzzle comprising, in combination, a case t l having a base and a transparent cover, and a y `lplurality of .arbitrarily shaped `puzzle pieces ofj` jigsaw type in said casingwiththeir upperfaces visible through said cover and being ofra size,l when assembled, substantially coextensive inarea with said base, certain of said pieces being loosely: containedV in said case and others being `per-Vl manently secured to said base in proper relation Y, thereto and to each otherwhereby the loosev pieces kmay be assembled, by'shaking or otherwise.

manipulating the casing.

2. A jigsaw type puzzle comprising a plurality of irregularly and arbitrarily shaped pieces adapted to be assembled in only one 'proper relation in which the Vassembly .has a margin of `predeter- Y mined size Vand shape, and a casing' enclosing the puzzle having a base of substantially the size and shape of the puzzle when assembled and a cover above the b-ase through which the puzzle may be viewed, whereby they puzzle may be assembled upon the. base by shaking and otherwise rnianipulating the casing, a plurality of said puzzle pieces being permanently secured tothe base in proper, assembled relation `to eachother and` tothe base, whereby .assembly of the loose pieces is facilitated.Y

-3. A' jigsaw type puzzle comprising aplurality of irregularly and arbitrarily shaped piece'scut froml a Vmounted vpicture of` predeterminedV overall size rand shapev and adapted, to be re-a'ssembled iny substantially theiroriginal: relation, 'and' a case j enclosing said pieces havingv `a base of substan` `Atially the same 'shape Aand size as the original picture and a'transpiarent cover preventing access tothe pieces but permitting visual' observation thereof as the case is manipulatedjin anattempt toftthe pieces together.

4. A jigsaw type puzzlecomprising of irregularly and arbitrarily shaped pieces `*cut from a mounted 'picture of predetermined overall size and shape and adapted to be re-assembled` in substantially their original vrelation-,`andl'a'` case enclosing said pieces having a baseuofsub- Y stantially the same shape and size as the original picture anda transparent cover preventing access to the pieces but permitting visual observation` thereof as thecase is manipulated in an attempt to. t thepieces together, certain of said pieces being permanentlysecured tothe .base in properassembled relation 'to each otherand tothe base,

said 'cover' being spaced from the base a greater distance than the thickness of two of saidpiece's, whereby the loose pieces may slide over eachother and overV the secured pieces duringfmanipulation of the puzzle, to move the loose ypieces into proper relation to'e'ach other vand to the securedpieces.

HENRY M. ysnocuivi.

a plurality 

